Jumpstart the winter steelhead season on the Olympic Peninsula

Last weekend, I met my friend Julian on the Olympic Peninsula to jumpstart the winter steelhead season. Cold clear weather, dropping rivers, and lots of fish. We fished switch rods with indicator lines for two days, and even caught a few salmon and dollies in the mix. Photo spread below:

Gear notes: On the first day, I fished my seven weight Redington Switch Rod, and fished a borrowed five weight Sage Z-Axis switch rod the second. Big difference. After one day of fishing the seven weight, my arm ached from throwing around the heavy rod. The five weight was a lot lighter and more comfortable to manage all day. I really liked my Redington seven weight as a great all-duty winter steelhead rod, but will probably keep it spooled up with a Skagit head and T14 and find a way to work a lighter switch rod in my arsenal for indicator fishing.

Highlights of the trip included watching a thirty pound salmon, the size and color of a beat up old trashcan jump out of a deep water trough, and almost land inside the waders of my stunned fishing partner. Also, I watched a steelhead the size of my leg shoot out of a boulder garden to smack the pink indicator floating past on the surface. Can’t wait to try my indicator patterns on some local fish soon. Check out the steelhead fly tying video page for more ideas.

-MS